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ACA Chefs Share Romantic and Affordable Valentine's Day Menu

January 25, 2011

What’s sweeter than preparing a romantic and budget-friendly Valentine’s Day dinner at home for the love of your life? Chefs Steven Serano and Annmarie Chelius, educators at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Academy of Culinary Arts, share a menu that proves romance doesn’t have to be expensive.

2.) Slice the celery root thinly on a slicer or mandolin, then julienne.

3.) Boil a pot of salted water and blanch the julienned celery root.

4.) Reduce the heavy cream in a sauce pan, add the pommery mustard,and the celery root. Cook slowly until the cream is reduced and the noodles are well coated.

5.) Place noodles on top of the short ribs.

DESSERT

Chocolate Ganache - $6

Chef Annmarie Chelius

Ingredients:

· 1 1/2 lbs. chocolate, chopped to pieces the size of a pea.

· 1 pint heavy cream

· 1 T liqueur, any flavor (optional)

Method:

1.) Place chopped chocolate in a mixing bowl.

2.) Heat cream until it steams. DO NOT BOIL.

3.) Pour cream over chocolate and let sit for 5 minutes.

4.) Stir to combine. Finish by adding liqueur.

Presentation Tips: Use as a dipping sauce for fruit or pound cake, or pour over your favorite ice cream for a mouth-watering treat.

Note: The higher quality the chocolate, the better tasting the ganache. If ganache becomes cool, simply reheat carefully in microwave.

The ACA, located at Atlantic Cape’s Mays Landing Campus, has been training future chefs and food service professionals since 1981. For more information on the Academy, call 1-800-645‑CHEF, e-mail accadmit@atlantic.edu or visit www.atlantic.edu/aca.

*Browse the flickr photo set to see how ACA students created elegant Valentine's Day table settings with a $10 budget.